some of us voted for it, some of us didn't. some of us voted for the medicare part of the prescription drug program written by the insurance companies that was not paid for. some of those voted for it and some of us didn't. >> know, some of us didn't. >> i wasn't talking about you in particular but it did pass under republican leadership. some food for the wall street bailout. some of the money was repaid, some of it wasn't. some of us didn't vote. so we before we talk about the serious of the debt and i agree it is a serious issue, let's remember how we got there, who voted for the sum paid programs and who didn't. but mr. lew, welcome and thank you for a much for your service. senator ensign and senator alander and others are right, it is a serious problem. we have to deal with it, but it's one of many problems. among the many things, the middle class is collapsing, poverty is increasing. when president bush was president, the middle class all a $2,000 a year decline in the median family income. the issue i want to talk about